What was your first job as a journalist?
TV reporter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Have you ever used a typewriter?
yes, an electric one
How is social media changing news?
It is making it faster-paced and putting it under greater scrutiny. It also is making it increasingly harder for facts to get through.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Lou Grant
What does it mean to be a journalist?
You have to constantly be curious & questioning, never taking things at face value. It means cataloguing history, in a way people understand
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Cannot think of any
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
explain why I or my viewer should care, what sort of impact could it have on them
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Dalet, Final Cut Pro, Google docs, Tweetdeck
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
John Dickerson, Jake Tapper
Why did you become a journalist?
I enjoyed learning about history and politics when I was young. Growing up, I wanted to be there and be a part of it, covering the action
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
no
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
my coverage of the impact of prison reforms in Louisiana on inmates behind bars for decades. Visiting Angola Prison was eye-opening
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't be afraid of the story taking you in a direction you don't expect. Don't be afraid to not cover the obvious.
When's the best time to pitch you?
anytime, but if you want the story out that day, early in the morning
What's the best pitch you ever got?
This may be selfish, but definitely when I was asked to accompany the governor on his trade mission to Cuba. I was 1 yr out of college
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
can't think of one off the top of my head
What's your favorite drink?
milk or water, no I'm not kidding
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
wandering the halls of Congress or sifting through sheet music
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
AP, NYTimes, the Atlantic
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Politicians on Capitol Hill do not get along
